In a major development ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match is set to be rescheduled. The fixture, originally slated for October 15, will now take place on October 14 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s highest capacity stadium.
Officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have confirmed that the venue will remain unchanged, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) fresh request to ICC for a date alteration.
The primary reason behind the change in the India vs Pakistan match date is the commencement of the Navratri festival. The organizers considered it essential to ensure adequate security arrangements for the high-profile clash, which would have been challenging if held on its original date.
However, it is not just the India vs Pakistan match that will undergo rescheduling. Reports suggest that PCB will also request the revision of dates for their other group stage matches. According to ICC sources, Pakistan’s clash against Sri Lanka, originally planned for October 12 in Hyderabad, is likely to be moved to October 10 to provide ample rest between games. This alteration may also impact their match against the Netherlands, scheduled for October 6 at the same venue.
The PCB’s security delegation, upon receiving a green signal from Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s top-level committee, will finalize the team’s participation in the ICC event, ensuring proper safety measures are in place. The PCB is also likely to form a special security unit to conduct reconnaissance of all the venues in India where Pakistan is scheduled to play.
Apart from Pakistan’s matches, a few other member boards have requested changes in their respective schedules. Consequently, other teams’ fixtures are also likely to be rescheduled when ICC announces the revised version of the ODI World Cup fixtures.
The ICC World Cup 2023 will commence with the encounter between England and New Zealand, the finalists of the last edition, on October 5 in Ahmedabad. The host nation, India, will begin their campaign against Australia on October 8 at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The knockout stage will see the semi-finals taking place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 and at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16. The final is scheduled for November 19 in Ahmedabad.
Notably, if India qualifies for the semi-final, they will play in Mumbai, unless they face Pakistan, in which case the semi-final will be held in Kolkata at all costs.
As excitement builds for the mega event, fans can expect tickets for the group stage encounters to go on sale in the second week of this month. Cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the rescheduled fixtures as teams vie for glory in the ICC World Cup 2023.
